Water-tube boiler.



'No. 666,858. Patented Ian. 29, I901.

6. THOMPSON.

WATER TUBEBQILEB.

(Application filed Apr. 14, 1900. )v Model.) 5 sheets sheet I.

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Patented Ian. 29, I911". G. THOMPSON.

WATER TUBE BOILER.

'No Model.)

(Application filed Apr, 14, 1900.)

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NO. 666,858Q Patented .Ian. 29, l90l. G. THOMPSON.

WATER TUBE BOILER.

(Application filed Apr. 14, 1900.

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No. 666,858. Patentad Jan. 29, IQOI.

' G. THOMPSON.

.WATER TUBE BOILER.

(App lication filed Apr 14. 1900.)

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No. 666,858. Patented Jan. 29, I901. a. THOMPSON.

WATER TUBE BOILER.

(App1ic|ition filed A 14, 1900. (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

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"UNITED ATNT Fried GEORGE THOMPSON, OF HOUGI-ITON, MICHIGAN.

WATER-TUBE BOILER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 666,858, dated January 29, 190i.

Application filed April 14, 190p. s ri 1 ,801- (N m l.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE THOMPSON, a resident of the city of Houghton, county of Houghton, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Water-Tube Boilers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The present invention has for its object to provide an improved construction of boiler for the generation of steam for power, for heating, or other purposes; and distinctive features of my invention will be found to consist in the construction whereby a verylarge area of heating-surface is attained within very small compass, the arrangement being such that the heat from the fuel shall be most effectively distributed and utilized before its final passage to the stack.

My invention is further characterized by the improved means whereby an exceedingly compact and efficient boiler is secured that is complete and ready for use as it leaves the factory and the construction of which is such that re pairs or replacement of parts can be effectedat a minimum cost.

My invention is hereinafter described, and its novel features are more particularly pointed out in the several claims at the end of this specification.

Figure l is a view in side elevation of my improved boiler. Fig. 2 is a View in central vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a front view. Fig. 4 is a view in vertical section on line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a view in horizontal section on line 5 5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a view in vertical cross-section on line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detail view in vertical cross-section, showing more particularly the manner of supporting the inner end of the feed-water heaters. Fig. 8 is a detail view in cross-section through the front ends of the feed-water heaters, the pipes extending between the heaters being shown in elevation.

Upon a'suitable foundation A is mounted a metal bed-plate B, whereon my improved boiler is sustained. By reference more particularly to Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings it will be seen that that part of the bed-plate B that extends over the ash-pit a serves to support the damper-plate C, whereon rests a suitable dam per-plate c, and is providedwith transverse grate-bar supports (1, that serve to sustain the grate-bars D of the furnace. At the rear of the grate-bars D rises a transverse bridge-wall A, preferably braced by an angular back-plate a (see Fig. 2,) this bridge- Wall dividing the rear of the furnace and causing the products of combustion to rise as they pass from the fuel-chamber.

My improved boiler is of a type that may be appropriately termed a self-contained boiler, and the walls of the boiler are shown as resting upon the bed-plate B. The side and end walls of the boiler are formed of iron or steel plates held at proper distance apart to form a chamber that extends around the fuel-chamber and the furnace proper and the space through which the products of combustion must travel as they pass to the furnace-stack. As shown, the bottom of the water-chamber, that is formed by the plates comprising the sides and end walls of the boiler, consists of a U-shaped or channel bar E, to the upturned flanges of which are riveted the lower edges of the plates that comprise the boiler-Walls. The front wall of the boiler is shown as formed of the plates E and E the back wall being composed of the plates E and E and the side walls being formed, respectively, of the plates F F and F F The top of the water-chamber formed in the front, rear, and side walls of the boiler is closed (except at the points hereinafter indicated) by top plates E preferably of inverted U-shaped channel-bars, the flanges of these top plates being riveted to the upper edges of the plates that comprise the boiler-walls.

By reference more particularly to Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings it will be seen that the plates that comprise the boiler walls are braced at different points by stay-bolts e and e. The stay-bolts e are solid bolts, but preferably the stay-bolts e are tubular bolts entering threaded openings in the plates of the boiler-walls, the purpose of employing tubular stay-bolts e at such points being to enable the dust to be blown from off the water-tubes within the boiler, as will presently more fully appear.

Upon the front and rear walls of the boiler is supported the steam-drum G, this drum being formed of boiler-plate and with closed ends 9 g, as shown in the drawings. One

end of the drum G is provided with a man hole 9 that is closed by an interior cover 9 from which extends a bolt 9 that passes through a crab or spider-frame g the legs of which bear against the outer face of the end g of the drum. The bolt g is furnished with an adjusting-nut, whereby the cover 9 may be drawn tightly to place. Adjacent its front and rear ends the drum G is formed with openings 9", that communicate with the corresponding chambers between the plates or shells that comprise the front and rear walls of the boiler. Across the openings g are extended stay bars or plates 2', that serve to strengthen the drum at such points. By reference to Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings it will be seen that the upper ends of the plates comprising the front and rear walls are flanged, as at 6 and these flanges are riveted to the drum G, and to the drum is also connected the upper end of the top channel-plate E The top channel-plate E is bent upward to conform to the outlines of the front and rear wall-plates,that rise centrally about the openings g of the drum G.

Adjacent the bottom of the drum G are formed a series of holes 9 and a corresponding series of holes are formed adjacent the upper edge of each of the side walls F and F and between these holes of the side walls and drum extend the transverse tubes 11 H, by which a circulation of water is secured at such points. Preferably the tubes H H are arranged out of alinement, as seen in Fig. A, to insure a more effective distribution and exposure of the tubes to the action of the products of combustion. Between the side walls F and F of the furnace also extend the series of transverse pipes J, the arrangement of which is preferably that shown in Fig. 2 of the drawingsthat is to say, the pipes J are arranged in zigzag manner for more effective exposure of the water therein to the products of combustion. In like manner also the inner plates of the front and rear walls of the furnace are connected by a series of water-tubes K, the arrangement of which tubes is preferably that indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, and beneath the rear portion of the tubes K and connecting the inner plates F and F of the side walls of the boiler ex- I tend the transverse water-tubes L, that are preferably arranged, as shown, in the path of the products of combustion as the latter pass over the bridge-wall A. Above the fuelchamber and extending to a distance back of the bridge-wall A is the transverse plate or wall M, of fire-brick or like refractory material, this plate being preferably located above the bottom row of longitudinal tubes K, and above the upper row of these tubes K is arranged a similar plate or wall M, of fire-brick or like material, that extends from the rear wall of the boiler to a point about midway above the fuel-chamber. The purpose of the plates or walls M M is to effectively serve in guiding the products of combustion rearwardly between the series of transverse tubes L, thence forwardly between the longitudinal tubes K,and thence rearwardly between the upper series of transverse watertubes J as the products of combustion travel toward the smoke-stack of the furnace. By reference to Fig. 4: it will be seen that the transverse plates or walls M M do not extend entirely from side to side of the boiler-walls,

but open spaces m are left at each side, so

that a portion of the products of combustion may rise at the sides, thus more effectively distributing the heat upon the side walls and around the water-tubes adjacent thereto.

At the sides of the steam-drum G extend thecylindricalwater-drumsNand N. These drums are of plate metal, their inner ends being permanently closed by caps a, while their outer ends are closed by removable covers n, the flanges n of which are conveniently bolted to corresponding flanges formed at the outer ends of the heaters. .The front ends of the drums N N rest upon the channel-plates E that extend between the top edges of the plates E and E of the front wall of the furnace, and the rear ends of each of the drums N N are preferably supported by brackets 02 that rise from the channel-plates E, that cover the chambers of the side walls of the boiler, (see Figs. 5 and 7,) these brackets engaging arms or brackets 72 that are bolted to the outer sides of the drums N N. To the inner sides of these drums N N are bolted angular brackets a, (see Fig. 7,) that are engaged by slotted strap-irons 92 the upper ends of which are secured, as at a to the side walls of the drum G. Manifestly the drums N N may be supported in other ways; but I prefer the construction shown, as it leaves the inner ends of the drums thoroughly exposed to the action of the products of combustion.

Over each of the drums N N extends an arch-plate P, preferably provided with asbestos lining p, and the lower edge of each archplate is bolted to a channel-bar 1), that extends along and is secured to the U-shaped channel E that unites the plates forming the side walls of the boiler. The upper inwardly-extending edges of the arch-plates P abut against and are suitably secured to the wall of the drum G, and the rear ends of the arch-plates P are fastened to the front face of the smoke-flue R, that rises from the rear of the boiler. By reference to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings it will be seen that the smokeflue R is arched above the drum G, the legs of the smoke-flue extending upon opposite sides of the drum. The back and side walls of the smoke-flue, as shown in Fig. 5, rest upon the U-shaped channelbar E The front walls of the smoke-flue extend over and are secured to the rear-.ends of the archplates P, and the inner wall rof the smoke-flue has its downwardly extending ends bearing against the wall of the drum G. (See Fig. 4.) Suitable angle-bars '1', that extend around the angles of the smoke-flue, serve to stiffen the parts and more securely unite them together. It will thus be seen that as the products of combustion pass around the front edge of the horizontal plate M they will rise up between the tubes J and H H and around the drums N N and will pass rearwardly into the lower sections of the smoke flue R. It will be understood, of course, that the upper part of the smoke-flue will be united in suitable manner with the stack.

In order to permit the water-tubes to be readily placed in position and to be removed when repairs become necessary, I form the outer walls of the boiler with a series of holes arranged at points opposite the outer ends of the water-tubes. Thus by reference to Fig. 2 it will be seen that a series of holes are formed in the outer plates or shells E and E of the front and rear walls at points opposite the ends of the Water-tubes K. These holes are normally closed by interior plugs or covers it, from each of which extends a bolt 10 that passes outward through a crab or spiderframe k each bolt being provided with a threaded nut or washer it. By Withdrawing the crab or spider-frame the corresponding cover It can be removed and access may be had to the end of the corresponding Watertube K. In order to cover the groups of crabs or spider-frames 70 I prefer to attach to the front and rear walls of the boiler frames a having hinged doors e one of which is shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. In like manner also the outer plates of the side walls F and F (see Fig. 4) are formed with a number of openings at points opposite the watertubes L, these openings being closed by plugs or covers 1, having bolts Z extending therefrom, these bolts passing through crabs or spider-frames and being provided with threaded nuts Z In order to permit the plugs or covers Z to be conveniently passed through the plate, I prefer to form several of the lowermost holes of the group of oblong shape and of such size as will permit the passage of the covers therethrough. The side Walls are shown as having frames 6 extending around the groups of crabs or spider-frames Z and the frames 6 are closed by plates 6. The plates 6 are shown as formed with inwardlyturned flanges 6 that engage the outwardlyturned flanges of the frame 6 (see Fig. 4,) the plate a being arranged to slide to position upon the frame a when the flanges of the plate and frame are interlocked. All of the Water-tubes are set at an inclination, and the arrangement and location of the tubes are preferably as shown, although manifestly this arrangement and location may be variedwithout departure from the spirit of the invention.

In order to deliver the feed-water to the boiler, the arrangement of pipes next to be described is preferably adopted. The water is admitted from the source of supply by pipe S first to the drum N, the pipe S extending rearwardl y within the heater, as clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. From the upper part of the front of the drum N the water passes by pipe S to the drum N. By reference to Figs. 5 and 8 of the drawings it will be seen that while the pipe S takes the water from the front end and from adjacent the top of the drum N it delivers it to the rear portion of the drum N. From the front end of the drum N leads a pipe S that extends through the front end of the drum G to the rear of the drum and has a downwardly-extending end that opens into the space 9 (see Fig. 5) at the rear of the drum. The drums N N by this arrangement serve to increase the water-heating surface of the boiler. To the bottom of each of the drums N N, adjacent its front, is connected a blow-off pipe T, this pipe serving to remove the sediment, &c. when the drums are to be cleaned.

By reference more particularly to Figs. 2

and 3 of the drawings it will be seen that the fire-box or fuel-chamber of the boiler has openings therein for the delivery of fuel onto the grate-bars, these openings being in suitable number and being closed by hinged doors U, U, U and U Around the openings and between the plates E and E extend the frames to, that are riveted to the inner and outer plates E and E of the front wall. In like manner also the rear Wall of the boiler has an opening 6 through which access may be had to the interior of the lower part of the boiler in order to permit the same to be cleaned. This opening 6 is closed by a suitable cover 6 and around the opening 6 extends a frame it, corresponding to the frames that extend around the door-openings at the front of the boiler. Each of the frames u in the front and rear Walls consists of a plate having a flange a, that is riveted to the ad jacent outer plate of the boiler-wall, and the inner plate of the front wall of the boiler has outwardly-extending flanges, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, that enter the frames 7.6, while the inner plate of the rear wall is formed about the opening 6 With an outwardly-extending flange e", that enters the frame to, located at such point.

At one side of the boiler is located the water-column tube V, with glass gage v for de' termining the amount of water in the drum, and the top of the water-column tube V is connected by a pipe V with the upper part of the steam-drum G, while the lower part of the tube V is connected by a pipe V with the lower part of the boiler.

The top of the steam-drum G is shown as provided with a steam-delivery'port W and with a safety pop-valve Y. Beneath the delivery-opening W is preferably arranged a baffleplate to, that serves to prevent the discharge of water and foam with the dry steam through the discharge-opening W.

While I have described what I regard as the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is obvious that the details of construction &

hereinbefore described may be varied by the skilled mechanic within wide limits without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is obvious also that features of the invention may be employed without its adoption as an entirety.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that when fire is built upon the gratebars D the products of combustion will pass up over the bridge-wall A and around the transverse tubes L, thence around the rear edge of the horizontal plate M, (a portion of the products also passing up at the sides of the plate M,) and thence between the tubes K and around the front end of the plate M, as well as through the narrow spaces at the side of said plate M. The products of combustion rising above the plate M will travel toward the smoke-flue R, but in so doing will pass around the transverse watertubes L and H H and will rise also around the drums N N. By this construction the heat of the fuel and the products of combustion are most effectively utilized before they pass to the furnace-stack.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A water-tube boiler having a continuous vertical wall with a continuous water-space therein, said wall forming and entirely surrounding the fire-box and combustion-chamber, partitions in said combustion-chamber forming a continuous zigzag passage for the products of combustion and transverse water-tubes connectingthe opposite sides of said continuous wall, passing through said passage and opening into said continuous waterspace.

2. A water-tube boiler having front, rear and side vertical walls with a continuous water-space through said walls, said walls forming and entirely surrounding the fire-box and combustion-chamber and transverse water-tubes connecting said front, rear and side walls,passing through said combustion-chamber and opening into said continuous waterspace.

3. A water-tube boiler having front, rear and side vertical walls with a continuous water-space therein forming and entirely surrounding a fire-box and combustion-chainber, a steam-drum located at the top of the boiler and separate water connections between said drum and each of said front, rear and side walls.

4. A steam-boiler having chambered walls surrounding the fire box and the space through which the products of combustion pass and having a lower series of transverse water-tubes, an upper series of transverse water-tubes and an intermediate series of longitudinal water-tubes arranged in the path of travel of the products of combustion, said water-tubes connecting opposite points in the chambered walls of the boiler.

5. A steam-boiler having chambered walls surrounding the fire-box and the space for the passage of products of combustion and having two transverse plates arranged at different elevations between the walls, the free ends of said transverse plates being out of vertical alinement to make a sinuous passage for the products of combustion, a series of water-tubes located below the lowermost transverse plate, a series of transverse water-tubes located above the uppermost transverse plate and a series of longitudinal water-tubes located between said transverse plates.

6. A steam-boiler having chambered walls surrounding the fire-box and the space for the passage of products of combustion and having two transverse plates arranged at different elevations between the walls, the free ends of said transverse plates being out of vertical alinement to make a sinuous passage for the products of combustion, a series of water-tubes located below the lowermost transverse plate, a series of transverse watertubeslocated above the uppermost transverse plate and a series of longitudinal Water-tubes located between said transverse plates, spaces being left at the sides of said transverse plates for the more direct upward passage of portions of products of combustion.

7. A steam-boiler having chambered walls formed of inner and outer metal plates and having water-tubesconnectingopposite points of said walls, the outer plates of said walls being formed with openings opposite the ends of said water-tubes, suitable covers for said openings and an external plate for protecting a number of said covers.

8. A steam-boiler having chambered walls formed of inner and outer metal plates and having Water-tubes connecting opposite points of said walls, the outer plates of said walls being formed with openings opposite the ends of said Water-tubes, and suitable covers for said openings, said covers being arranged upon the inside of said outer plates and being provided with bolts and crabs for holding them in position, and an external plate for protecting a number of said covers, bolts and crabs.

9. A steam-boiler having chambered walls surrounding a fire-box and a space for the passage of products of combustion, a raised bridge-wall at the rear of said fire-box, a transverse deflecting-plate extending from the front wall to a distance beyond the line of the bridge-Wall and at a point above said bridge-wall, a second deflecting-plate extending from the rear wall to a point adjacent the forward part of the boiler, a series of transverse tubes located above the bridge-wall and at the rear of the fire-box, a series of longitndinal water-tubes extending between the transverse deflecting-plates, and a series of transverse water-tubes located above the upper deflecting-plate, said water-tubes connecting the chambered walls of the boiler at opposite points.

ICS

10. A steam-boiler having front, rear and side vertical chambered walls, forming and entirely surrounding a fire-box and combustion-chamber, a steam-drum located at the top of the boiler and having open spaces adjacent its ends connecting with the chambers of the front and rear walls, water-tubes connecting said steam-drums to the chambers of the side walls and arched plates connected to said drums and said side walls and inclosing said water-tubes within the combustionchamber.

11. A steam-boiler having chambered walls formed of inner and outer plates, water-tubes connecting opposite points of said chambered walls and hollow stay-bolts located between said inner and outer plates at points adjacent the ends of said water-tubes.

12. A steam-boiler having chambered walls and having a steam-drum located at its top, a series of water-tubes connecting the lower portion of said steam-drum to the upper portion of said chambered walls and arch-plates leading from the sides of said steam-drum to the tops of said chambered walls and inclosing said water-tubes.

13. The combination with the steam-boiler having chambered walls and a steam-drum connected thereto, of water-drums located upon opposite side's of said steam-drum, and pipes connecting said drums.

14. A steam-boiler having chambered walls and a steam-drum connected thereto in combination with water-drums located at opposite sides of said steam-drum, pipes connecting said drums, and arch-plates extending over said water-drums.

15. A steam-boiler having chambered walls having a steam-drum located at its top and having a series of water-tubes connecting the lower part of said steam-drum to the upper part of said chambered walls and water-drums located upon opposite sides of said steamdrum, pipes connecting said drums and archplates inclosing said water-drums.

16. Asteam-boiler having chambered walls and a steam-drum connected thereto in combination with water-drums located upon opposite sides of said steam-drum, the front end of said water-drums being sustained by the front wall of the boiler, suitable brackets for sustaining the rear ends of said water-drums and pipes connecting said steam and water drums.

17. A steam-boiler having chambered walls and a steam-drum connected thereto in combination with water-drums located at opposite sides of said steam-drum, arch-plates extending over said water-drums, pipes connecting said drums and a blow-oft pipe leading from the outer ends of said water-drums.

18. A steam-boiler comprising chambered walls and having a steam-drum located at its top, a series of water-tubes extending between opposite points of said chambered walls and arch-plates extending between the tops of said walls and said steam-drum and an arched smoke-flue spanning said steam-drum at its rear end and connected with the space for the passage of products of combustion.

GEORGE THOMPSON.

Witnesses:

JAMES BREET, J r., SAMUELVV. RAWLINGS. 

